Portable generators to stay away from?

[mrmikey]

I would try flashing yours before tossing it.

SIL's boss chucked an old Coleman 5kw generator so the SIL grabbed it, said it wouldn't produce power anymore. I tried the hand turn the drill method to flash it but it wouldn't do anything. I ended up connecting the corded drill plugged into the generator to my battery drill and using that to turn it over, worked like a charm. Saying that it darn near twisted my wrist off when it started LOL.

 

[DGZRT]

He has a few good videos on generators.

 

[orezok]

Be apprised that standby generators have went WAY up in price. A 17KW Generac will set you back around 15 grand installed.

The price of generators is not the problem, gready installers are. I’m upgrading my 10 year old 8kW Generac to a 22 kW. I got a bid from a “certified” Generac installer at $15,300!

Having installed my previous generator and transfer switch, I decided to install this one also. My total cost is under $8,000.

Of course, being a licensed General Contractor for over 35 years didn’t hurt.

 

[nancyk]

I watched the 'flash" video. I cannot find any circuit breaker on the engine/generator. There should be one, shouldn't there?

 

[LittleBill21]

I watched the 'flash" video. I cannot find any circuit breaker on the engine/generator. There should be one, shouldn't there?

should be near the outlet, maybe a simple push button, post a photo

 

[nancyk]

Photos of generator.

 

[grsthegreat]

Funny thing is, nearly every defective PORTABLE generator ive run across in my generator service business has been a harbor freight, non inverter unit. These things have fried more houses than you could imagine. Usually its from outputting too much voltage on one leg and not enough on the other. I mean like one of the 120v circuits is putting out 200 volts and the other is outputting 40 volts. Generator never shuts down.

 

[grsthegreat]

The price of generators is not the problem, gready installers are. I’m upgrading my 10 year old 8kW Generac to a 22 kW. I got a bid from a “certified” Generac installer at $15,300!

Having installed my previous generator and transfer switch, I decided to install this one also. My total cost is under $8,000.

Of course, being a licensed General Contractor for over 35 years didn’t hurt.

Ive run into this also. But as an electrician, when things got so busy that i couldnt keep up, i kept raising my rates and bids. If they were accepted, it made it worth while to take on additional employee.

My rates are still pretty high, but i have more business than i can handle. And im retired to boot. No employees any more.

If you can install it yourself, more better for you. As long as its done correctly and safely. Ive seen some very scary homeowner installed jobs….i mean deadly unsafe. Including one idiot that installed an air cooled unit inside his garage.

Contractors are also burdened with overhead, work comp and contractor insurance, matching 401k, health insurance, etc. it all adds to cost.

One quick thing about your new install, read the manual closely as generac has recently added the need to run a separate control wire neutral wire that runs out to the generator T1neutral lug. There is no longer a jumper within generator. Its a new NEC rule. This has been messing up alot of recent installs. If missed, the battery charger doesnt operate.

 

[nancyk]

Just curious. The generator ran for an hour and powered the refrigerator, some battery backups, tv. Then four hours later it ran fine but would not generate electricity. Is there such a thing as generating too much electricity and not using it, in other words, under using the generator?

 

[orezok]

Ive run into this also. But as an electrician, when things got so busy that i couldnt keep up, i kept raising my rates and bids. If they were accepted, it made it worth while to take on additional employee.

My rates are still pretty high, but i have more business than i can handle. And im retired to boot. No employees any more.

If you can install it yourself, more better for you. As long as its done correctly and safely. Ive seen some very scary homeowner installed jobs….i mean deadly unsafe. Including one idiot that installed an air cooled unit inside his garage.

Contractors are also burdened with overhead, work comp and contractor insurance, matching 401k, health insurance, etc. it all adds to cost.

One quick thing about your new install, read the manual closely as generac has recently added the need to run a separate control wire neutral wire that runs out to the generator T1neutral lug. There is no longer a jumper within generator. Its a new NEC rule. This has been messing up alot of recent installs. If missed, the battery charger doesnt operate.

I got the new 9 control generator wire from Ziller. I should be OK